sweet little investigator

2nd companion

So this week started with my companion exchange. I am now with my new companion Elder Vaquero and he is a stud. Im pretty sure my mission president is looking out for me and trully wants the best for me. But anyways my new companion is from Iquitos Peru and he loves to do the things we need to do. He is a little more different than elder Sanabria but I love him just the same. And we are definitely going to get a lot of good things done. But that Is pretty much what sums him up a good missionary doing good things and helping a lot of people out. I also know that you guys love looking at the instagram and seeing all of these fun Photos. It was pretty cool this week because we had almost all of our Zone baptize this week, and this is what we like to call noche de blanco or a white night. It was really fun to help and really fun to be a part of. I know all of the questions that will come later, so have you had any baptisms or any converts how many etc. And this is why I think technology is a curse for me right now. I will answer all of your questions honestly because I want to have the spirit in order to bless these peoples lives and help all of them understand why we are here and the purpose for this life. But I also want to be humble, and I have already learned a lot about humility here as I have explained earlier but pride is one thing that is really really ugly to me people love to talk about themselves and pump themselves up and appear great and that is not something I want in the slightest. You all know that I hate those type of people. But I will tell you a few things. I have had a baptism with elder sanabria yes it was beautiful and very great to be a part of and share these wonderful feelings, yes I did get to baptize and yes it was in spanish. And there may or may not be others but in reality I have no desire to tell you a number or names. I  am in south america of course and obviously we baptize a lot here. But please dont make me tell you numbers or other things that would make me brag. I love you guys but I want to just focus on helping the next person not saying that I have helped sufficiently because I have baptized so many souls. Sorry guys I know you want to know and maybe I will share an occasional photo just to lift your spirits but right now I just want to be doing all things good. Im sorry for being weird and very selfish with this but I feel it is for the best. Sorry I have changed so much and am doing things a little different but I feel it is for the best. Trying to represnt Christ and be one of His followers isnt exactly normal. We are a different and better breed. All of us need to do our best to represent Christ in all situations and do all that we can to show our love for the savior and to be a little different, but obviously the better different no? You all are so good to me thank you for writing me and helping me feel good like always. I love all of you so much and want the best for every single one of you. And thats why I am here helping here to maybe help you guys recieve these blessings that they say a family recieves when a missionary is away. Hope you all do the best Things for your families and continue being strong in the work. Love you more than you know. 

This is Garrett's second companion companion, Elder Vaquero.

Pachacutec

garrett's first zone and tracting area.

changes in the mission

Hello my wonderful, marvelous, and amazing family,

Well,  This week was the craziest so far- a lot of things changed... and a lot of things didn't. This week was my very first transfer., and pretty much the craziest things happened. So, first off they splitt the   Ventanilla zone into pachacutec and ventanilla. I am in the zone pachacutec.  I  am still with elder Sanabria. but, that is really the only thing that stayed the same. My district changed. we lost elder Poma and Elder Harris, And then we got an additional companionship in our district. None the less, because we are a new zon,e we needed  zone leaders as well. And so They moved and are in our district as well. But this week we had a crazy game of soccer( in which i blew out the side of my shoes muy trist), and then we had an awesome water balloon fight   that was so much fun as well

. We are just enjoying this life to the maximum. Now we moved areas, but our house stayed the same. But, elder mamani, and elder thayne moved in to the house so we are four elders in one house. And then, Elder Linares and Elder Mora are moving into the house too (Because of the rent of the other house) so, we are going to have 6 elders in one house....

 talk about- no sleep ever. Elder Linares and Elder Mora are the zone leader.s And they are lo maximo.  they have helped me so much already. But then, as if you didn't think that was crazy enough- Elder Sanabria was called to be our District Leader, which, then put a lot of responsibility on me as well. So,I have been taking the initiative on a lot of things. that (normally), a new elder wouldn't have to do. which is both good and bad. Because a lot of the things I write are just a little off or i don't know what i'm doing exactly, But, it is improving along with my Spanish. i kinda wish I could show you my learnings. But, basically i'm training to be a trainer. and learning of the things that are happening in our mission at an early age. haha. But, everything was good other than we kind of needed to hit the refresh on the area of Profam, (my new area kind of) because elder sanabria is learning how  to be a district leader- (and with lots of meetings) our work is progressing slow. Bu,t we are still able to get the work done that needs to be.-  and still have our bits of fun... to keep us sane. My soccer skills are improving each week ,and our district still dominates all the older men who wish they could still move, and play like they used to. haha. But, it is fun because we play with our investigators, members, and anyone else who wants to play.- bu,t We are dang good.   haha.  

This week we also decided to work on our wrestling again.... in the which i went undefeated- (obviously) against all of my opponents- including Eder Sanabria, and Elder Mamani at the same time... haha (ooh and elder Linares- (who actually kind of knows how to wrestl)e so,I kind of have a big head after this week to say the least. But all in al,l we are just having the time of our lives ....converting, playing soccer, and eating pollo a la brazo y chaufa. (which is pretty much the best thing on the planet). We have to try everything that we can to eat. And i tookRrees'idea of the soda labels in my journal. And right now i have quite the collection already. But, this new district is amazing and they have taught me a lot. already. and it has only been a week. I am loving Peru and giving it my all.... what more could you expect from Elder Hyde? No, but really- me and Elder Sanabria in his words, were ¡"Vamos a destruir profam" ! So, this week we are going to go and tract and convert like craz.y I'll update you all later. but, right now i got some work to do! Love you all keep doing your best.

Con mucho Amor,

Elder Hyde

garrett's first birthday away from home

challenge accepted, challenge Destroyed

the history:

on the today before Garrett left for his mission, we had a special family Home evening with extended family (grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles).   We asked everyone to 1. share a fun memory of Garrett., 2. Give him a piece of advice for his mission, or 3. tell something they admired about him.   It was super fun and lots of wonderful things were said.   Garrett's cousin, Quincey chose to give Garrett a challenge on his mission  "I challenge you to ride a llama while you are in Peru."   "And if you don't take a picture, Then it didn't happen."

we received this picture in our latest email:

and here

is what elder Hyde said about it-

But on a much happier note here is elder hyde with proof that he is fulfilling his promises. We found this little beauty in our area he was all decorated and looking like he hated his life. so what did we to try to bless one more soul so we gave him an apple and a bit of bread. Then we decided to make him hate life again by having fat old me sit on his back and go for a little ride and take a picture. Oh well im sure he will get over it. Also it is very true that llamas spit and they spit a lot. This one had a little bit of a spitting fit when i sat on his back. but hey I said i would ride a llama so i was gonna ride that llama!

Another great week

hello- I am through another wee​k of peru, and still doing great! Again, sorry for last week's letter I tried everything that I could to get it back, and there was no way. I am going to try to do my best to tell you everything I can- but, again,I got a screwy keyboard.... that the space bar only works half the time, and the same with the back space. Big news for peru: we got rain,,, and how sweet it was, haha. But, my week was great! we had a lot of fun, running around. my area is pachecutec (if you want to get really specific with my boundaries) and all the other part is the city of ventanilla, (which is my zone). but our area is actually two regular missions. haha before it was cedros 1,2 and 3 but cedros,my church, more or less is down to two. soElder sanabria and i  have double the area to cover. but, we take it with pride and say that we are the best district, (because we are). our reason being- that there is only four- when usually there are6-8. but, this week was fun- because- we went all over the other area..... and had quite a bit of success. our mission president promised us this week: that if we open our mouths that god will put people in our way -so that they could find us, or we could find them. so,I took it to heart. and tried at nearly every opportunity. so, my first experience was Tuesday, we got off the bus that day and i started talking to a man, who was walking in our direction, and he was happy to reply... and then, we got talking about the gospel- and then walked right up to his door- where, all of a  sudden, 3 more came- out so we taught our lesson to the four people as we were clear out in the middle of no where. then a couple days later we went back and there were two more people at the door to teach .so, just from opening our mouths,  we have 6 new investigators from one simple hello. Then later on that week we had another fun experience, that was fun for me. we knocked on a door, and were talking to a man for a solid 7 min and trying to ask if we could teach.  He was very reluctant, and kind of snide about it. but we asked if he would ask his wife if we could. so, he left, and while he was gone, i asked Elder Sanabria- what he thought- and he said: that it was not gonna work out, and i asked "why?". he said: "because this happens a lot" and then i replied kind of jokingly, but serious too, and I said, "where is your faith, Elder?, and he said, "I have it,, but, I have seen this before. And I said, "well i have faith, and just watch: these people are going to accept the gospel." so. i said my quick little prayer but, not even a little prayer., more so,,,,,, just, "please help them god". well a little later he came back with his wife and asked if we would come in. we taught a fantastic lesson and everything went smooth- and they happily accepted the date for baptism. so after we left, of course, I had to pester Elder Sanabria about it., and tease and joke about it. and he was a little dumbfounded., and said," that that does not happen often, if at all ". So, just goes to show you- even if you have a little, very little, faith- even if it is kind of joking, that God can touch the hearts of his children. Alright, now on to the best- most crazy- part of our week. So, after all of our hard work, came sunday.( now, 'normally' sundays are quite normal).... it is relaxed, we don't have to teach, or do much ,till about 3 but, it was stake conference this week in ventanilla, which is about 30 min away. well, we began at about 730 to gather our investigators for church. (and we rented a bus for them). well with stake conference at 10:00  this sounds early enough right? well,-  you and me were both wrong.     we gathered all of our 16 investigators, 7 children accompanying, also a recent convert, and a membe,r in our bus,  And we left for ventanilla around 10:10 ,with a 30 min ride left, well, thankfully, nothing starts completely on time- so, we were only 20 min late. but, when we got there we walked directly to the front, where the investigators were sitting, because they were asked to, by president stauffer, Because, He promised: who ever came, would be baptized, haha. so, we got there, and all the other elders were sitting there in the front, because there was room,  well, Elder Sanabria and Iwent in, and asked all of them to move, and they all look confused,but they did it.,  then we marched our (26 or so people) into the chapel,  and sat them on the benches., taking up the first 2 and a half rows,  haha. there was no room for us to sit. so, we, and the other missionaries sat outside. where. we listened to our president and the stake president speak., and it was so good. so, later our president came up after the session and congratulated us. because, there has never been 16 investigators in one meeting, let alone- a stake conference 30 min away- so ,it is a little nice, ( not going to lie), seeing some our hard work pay off. Then we rode back with all of them, plus, elder poma, and elder harri,s and their investigators.  and all the missionaries stood on the way there and back. and my shoulders (not lying) hit the roof when i stand but, you still would not have a found a happier camper around. And that smile has pushed me, and will push me, through the rest of this week- haha. 

With love,

elder Hyde